The One Year® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), May 20
"Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how go out or come in . . . . Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" (1 Kings 3:7,9).
Many who enter politics today "fake it until they make it." They rely on their charisma or support teams to carry them through. Crying out to God isn't even an option. Leading others carries with it grave and great responsibility. Only when leaders consider their people as God's people will they cry out to God for His wisdom and help.
Moses records a set of regulations in Deuteronomy 17:14-20 that are to guide the behavior of Israel's future kings.
- He must not be a foreigner (17:15).
- "He shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses" (17:16).
- "Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away" (17:17).
- "Nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself" (17:17).
- "He shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of is life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and statutes" (17:18-19).
- "His heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left" (17:20).
David exhorts Solomon one last time before his death, "Keep the charge of the LORD your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn" (1 Kings 2:3). The LORD responds to Solomon's request by granting him wisdom. He then places a condition on the length of Solomon's life: "If you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked" (1 Kings 3:14). Both God and David point Solomon to Deuteronomy's fifth guideline for choosing a king.
Bible literacy accompanies wisdom from God. Effective leaders know and follow God's Word.
Questions from today's chronological Bible reading (Ps. 83; 1 Chron. 29:23-25; 2 Chron. 1:7-13; 1 Kings 2:13-3:15):
The mention of the Assyrians places Psalm 83 in the late Divided Kingdom Era. How are Israel's enemies described? How does the psalmist pray against Israel's enemies?
What two events occur that force Solomon to resolve the issue with Adonijah?
Review David's final instructions to Solomon in 1 Kings 2:1-9. Read 1 Sam. 2:31-35. Why does Solomon remove Abiathar from serving as priest?
What do the stories about Adonijah, Joab, and Shimei all share?